Machine for operating upon ticket strips



April 7, .1931. F. w. LAENCHER 1,799,912

I MACHINE FOR OPERATECNG UPON TICKET STRIPS Filed March 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Shet 1 nl e h C C" e 7mm nL r H W r m F n K F E 9 m G mm d I 3. m r V nununm A ril 7, 1931. F. w. LAENCHER 1,799,912

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPpN TICKET STRIPS Filed March 11, 1924 3 Shgets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

lnvenTor. Ffederi ck W. Luencher byM Maw P- 7, 1931 F. w. LAEN'CHJER 1,799,912

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON TICKET STRIPS Filed March 11, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. I.

Inventor.

Frederick W. Lclencher Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK V7. LAENCHER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO A. KIMBALL CO1!!- PANY, OF NE'W' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION .OF NEW YORK MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON TICKET STRIPS Application filed March 11, 1924. Serial No. 698,406.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for operating upon a strip of material such as a ticket strip and more particularly in machines for printing and severing 5 individual marking tickets from a marking ticket strip. The invention in a general way involve-s improvements upon the type of ma chine made the subject of my Patent No. 1,650,07 6, granted November 22, 1927.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a ticket strip feeding mechanism which will eiiiciently and properly present to the mechanism for operating upon the strip, such as the printing and sev- 15 ering mechanism, the successive sections of the ticket strip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism characterized by a longitudinal series of strip engaging mem 20 bers normally projected above the bottom plane of the ticket strip and depressed by the ticket strip below its bottom plane and spaced apart a distance not less than the width of the tickets to be formed from the strip together with means for longitudinally reciprocating these strip engaging members bodily in unison so that these strip engaging members will successively engage the end of the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the series and so advance the strip step by step the Width of the ticket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient construction of feeding mechanism and of mechanism for holding down or securing the co-operation of the ticket strip with the feeding mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ticket marking machine of relatively simple and of strong construction and one in which the parts are readily accessible for repair and replacement.

The objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointedout in the claims.

The invention is shown in a preferred form in the drawings as embodied in a machine for printing and severing marking tickets fed to the machine in the form of a continuous marking ticket strip.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine with a portion thereof broken away and partially in vertical cross section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the forward end of the feed bar.

Fig. 4c isa side elevation looking toward the right of Fig. 1 and partially broken away and partially in vertical cross section.

Fig. 5 is a detail in transverse vertical cross section showing the kick-off mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail in top plan and partially in horizontal cross section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

The machine herein illustrated comprises a frame of generally rectangular shape comprising a table or bed 1, a front wall 2, a rear wall 3, and end walls a and 5 and a suitable base 6 all enclosing with a box-like structure the operating mechanism of the machine. The frame is prolonged at the right to provide for the necessary length of the feeding mechanism. V

The main shaft 7 of the machine is shown as extending longitudinally of the frame and supported in suitable bearing standards 8 from the base. All the various mechanisms of the machine are operated directly from this shaft. This main shaft 7 is shown as driven by an electric motor 9 mounted in the frame and driving a worm 10 which in turn drives a worm wheel 11. This worm wheel is mounted on a transverse shaft 12 supported in suitable bearing standards 13. The shaft 12 carries a beveled pinion it which drives a beveled gear 15 sec ured to the main shaft 7.

While the particular operations to be performed upon the ticket strip are independent of the invention in its broader aspects the ma chine illustrated is' particularly designed for the printing and severing from the strip of individual marking tickets each of which maybe provided with fastening means such as pins or strings.

In the operation of this machine the ticket strip is fed so as to bring successive sections thereof onto a horizontal platen 16 preferably formed on a raised portion of the bed 1.

Mechanisms are provided for severing the section thus fed onto the platen from the remainder of the ticket strip and for printing any desired matter upon the ticket section while it rests upon the platen. But the severing and printing mechanisms form of themselves no part of the present invention and are shown as of the same construction as in my aforesaid patent.

It will be su'llicicnt to note with respect to the printing mechanism that the printing head 17 carrying the movable type 18 is mounted above the bed of the machine and swings between the inking pad 19 and the platen being operated by the rack 20 and the co-operating toothed sector 21. The rack 20 receives its reciprocating movement from a cam 22 on the main shaft 7 which engages a roller 23 carried by the rack.

The cutting or severing mechanism also needs no extended description. The bed is slotted transversely at 24 at the right of the platen. A plate 25 formed on the end of an overhanging arm 26 is rigidly supported above the bed or that surface which supports the ticket strip immediately to the right of the platen and this plate has removably cured in its bottom face a ledger blade 27 the front edge of which constitutes a cutting edge and extends transversely of the machine at the slot 2%. The lower or movable cutter member comprises a cutter blade 28 removably secured to a. cutter arm 25,) pivoted a the rear of the frame and carrying a roller 30 resting upon the cam 31 on the main shaft. The movable cutter thus at the required times brought into co-operation with the edge of the ledger blade 27 to sever the ticket strip immediately adjacent the platen. Preferably the mechanisms are so timed that the printing and severing operations take place practically simultaneously.

The ticket strips upon which the machine of this invention may operate n'lay be of varying sizes and designs. They may be plain, continuous straight edged strips or they may, as shown in F 6, be notched at the edges at 32. They may or may not be provided with fastening devices such as strings or wire fasteners 33 all of a familiar type.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism which will feed the ticket strip however constituted so as accurately to position successive sections thereof for the desired operation thereupon. In the machine illustrated the object of the feeding mechanism is to feed the ticket strip so as accurately to present successive ticket sections to the printing and severing mechanism so that the line of severance will take place at the precsie point desired such, for example, as across the notches 82 defining the ticket sections. t is very important that the ticket section shall be symmetrical and evenly printed and that, when notched, the line of severance shall take place along the notches.

In the preferred construction illustrated a longitudinal slot or way 34 is formed in the bed of the machine in line with the platen 16 or the position to which the ticket sections are to be fed and the feeding mechanism is mounted to reciprocate in this longitudinal way. The front side of this way is brought up to the level of the platen by a. plate secured at the front of the bed and presenting at its top a flat ticket strip supporting surface. The rear side of the way is brought up to the same level by a bar 36 secured to the top of the bed and also presenting at its top a flat ticket strip supporting surface.

A guide rib 37 is secured to the bed and eX- tends longitudinally of the way 84. A slide mounted to reciprocate upon this guide rib. As illustrated this slide comprises two blocks 38 each having a dovetail fit 0n the guide rib 37 and a feed bar 39 extending longitudinally of the way and secured by set screws to the blocks This slide comprising the blocks and feed bar is given a reciprocatory movement from the main shaft of the machine. For this purpose a cam 40 rocks a lever 41 connected at its upper end by an adjustable link 42 with the right hand block 38.

The feed bar carries a longitudinal series of strip engaging members which are normally projected above the bottom plane of the ticket strip resting upon the strip supporting surfaces of the plate 35 and bar 36 but which strip engaging members are depressed by the strip. The members of this series are spaced apart longitudinally a distance not less than the width of the ticket. As the series of strip engaging members are secured to the fed bar they are given a bodily reciprocation in unison. The result is that upon each forward movement of the feed bar the strip engaging member projected next to the right of the end of the ticket strip will be brought into engagement with the end of the ticket strip and thus advance the entire strip a predetermined distance or the width of the ticket to be severed therefrom. Suitable means are provided for preventing retrograde movement of the strip after each forward feeding movement.

The strip engaging members are prcfer ably in the form of gravity-operatcd pivoted pawls arranged in pairs so that each pair acts together against the end of the strip and thus assists in preventing any lateral twisting of the strip. Each pair of awls is preferably pivoted one at each side of the feed bar as shown at as and 4.4 and each pair is pivoted upon a single pin 4-5 extending laterally through the feed bar. The body of each pawl extends well'to the right of the pivot and thus forms a weight which acts normally to proedge of the strip.

preferably movable and comprises a flat bar ject the point of the pawl upwardly. This upward movement is limited by another pin 46 mounted in the feed bar and extending through an aperture in the pawls.

The ticket strip as it rests upon the sup porting surfaces at the top of the plate 35 and bar 36 is aligned and guided by the front surface of a guide bar 47 secured to the brackets 48 which are adj ustably mounted by the or wire 50 secured to and projecting laterally from the guide 17 and overlying the inner The other hold down is 51 adapted to rest on the ticket strip directly over the supporting surface at the top of the plate 35. This bar is carried by arms 52 extending rea'rwardly and pivotally mounted in brackets 53 on the bed. The movable hold down may also carry, as shown, a vertically pivoted roller 54 to guide the outer edge of the ticket strip adjacent its forward portion.

The plate 35 and the bar 36 extend beneath the ledger blade 27 substantially to the cutting edge thereof so that the ticket" strip is supported up to the line upon which it is to be severed. The edge guide 49 also extends.

beneath the ledger blade 27 so as to guide the ticket strip up to the line of severance. The

' left hand end of the feed bar '39 is slotted longitudinally at 55 to permit the operation therethrough of the vertical clamping bar 56 which co-operates with the ledger blade 27 clamping'bar thus enabling it properly to clamp the ticket strip against the blade 27 and prevent retrograde movement of the ticket strip during the backward movements of the feeding mechanism. The cam 59 is so shaped and timed that the clamping bar will be raised to engage and clamp the ticket strip at the end of the forward feeding movement and to retain the strip during the backward feeding movement thus enabling the strip en gaging members or pawls carried by the-feed bar successively to engage the widest ticket for which the machine is adapted and of course to engage the end of the strip upon its forward movement when tickets of less width are to be formed. 1 7

It will thus be seen that the ticket strip 7 One of these hold downs is preferably fixed and comprises a bar will be fed with great accuracy. Those strip engaging members or pawls which lie beneath the ticket strip are held pressed down by the strip but the member or pair of members to the right of the end of the ticket strip are projected upwardly. Consequently as the feed bar is moved forward the projected strip engaging members come against the end of the ticket strip and feed it surely and accurately forward the predetermined distance and positionthe left hand end of the strip upon the platen. The clamping bar then acts to hold the ticket strip and as the feeding mechanism is moved backward the next succeeding strip engaging member or pair of pawls is projected upwardly and the operation is repeated. Thus no matter what material the strip may be made of, whether thick or thin,- it will still be fed uniformly and accurately, thus insuring that tickets or sections of the same width shall be operated upon or printed and severed from the strip.

It is very desirable that when the ticket sections are severed from the strip, they shall be removed from the machine. Otherwise they may pile up one on top of the other or be pushedinto an undesirable position and clog the machine. In order to secure this result the invention provides a kick-off mechanism which acts at the conclusion of each operation, such as printing and severing to remove the severed ticket section off from the platen. For this purpose a vertical'shaft 61 is mounted in the frame, projects up through the bed plate, and carries a kick-off arm 62 so mounted as to sweep across the platen when the shaft 61 is rocked. A helical spring 63 connected at its upper end to the shaft and at its lower end to the baseof the frame acts to swing the arm 62 normally to the rear of the platen. The shaft 61 is rocked in the op posite direction to sweep the kick-off arm .62 across the platen and wipe the ticket from the platen by means of a wiper arm 64 projecting from the shaft 7 and engaging a pin.

65 projecting from the shaft 61. Thus, at each revolution of the mainshaft or at each operation of the machine the ticket severed from the strip is surely and accurately discharged from the machine. This feature of the invention is made the subject of a diyi sionalapplication.

The ticket strips are readily and successively placed in position in the machine by raising the movable hold down 51 or swinging it back, as shown in Fig. 1. The ticket strip may then be slid beneath the fixed hold down until its rear end is in'position to be caught by the strip engaging members and then the movable hold down swung into position. After the first strip has been introduced into the machine: successive ticket strips may be fed into the machine by inserting their forward ends beneath the rear end of the hold down and pushing them for- Ward until their forward ends approximately reach the rear end of the preceding ticket strip.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a longitudinal series of strip engaging members normally projected above and depressed by the strip below the bottom plane thereof and spaced apart a distance not less than the width of the ticket, and means for longitudinally reciprocating the said series of strip engaging members bodily in unison whereby the said strip engaging members will successively engage the end of the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the series and advance the strip step by step the width of the ticket.

2. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising the construction defined in claim 1 together with means for limiting the projecting movement of the strip engaging means.

3. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising the construction defined in claim 1 together with hold down means engaging the top of the strip and acting to press the strip into co-operation with the strip engaging members.

4. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a longitudinal series of pairs of laterally aligned strip engaging pawls each pivoted to swing normally above and to be swung by the strip below the bottom plane thereof with the said pairs of pawls spaced apart in the series a distance not less than the width of the ticket, and means for longitudinally reciprocating the said series of pairs of pawls bodily in unison whereby the said pairs of pawls will successively engage the end of the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the series and advance the strip step by step the width of the ticket.

5. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising the construction defined in claim 4 together with means for limiting the upward swinging movement of the pawls.

6. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a slide having a longitudinal series of strip engaging members pivoted thereon to swing transversely across the plane of the strip and spaced apart a distance not less than the width of the ticket, and means for reciprocating the slide to cause the strip engaging members successively to engage the end of the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the slide and advance the strip step by step the width of the ticket.

7. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a feed bar, a longitudinal series of pairs of laterally aligned pawls pivoted on the feed bar to swing transversely across the plane of the strip, the said pairs of pawls being spaced apart longitudinally a distance not less than the width of the ticket, means for causing the pawls to project normally above and to permit the pawls to be depressed by the strip below the bottom plane thereof, and means for reciprocating the feed bar to cause the pairs of pawls successively to engage the end of the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the feed bar and advance the feed bar step by step the width of the ticket.

8. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a bed presenting a longitudinal. way therein with parallel strip supporting surfaces at the sides of the way, a. slide mounted in the way, means for reciprocating the slide, means carried by the slide and acting upon the reciprocation thereof to engage the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the slide to advance the strip step by step the width of the ticket, a fixed hold down projecting above one of the supporting surfaces, and a movable hold down extending above the other supporting surface and acting normally to hold the strip there against.

9. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a bed, a plate presenting a ledger blade overlying the bed and having its edge extending laterally thereof, the said bed having a longitudinal way therein with paral lel strip supportingsurfaces at the sides thereof extending beneath the ledger blade to the edge thereof, a platen in line with the sup porting surfaces and adjacent the ledger blade, a slide mounted in the way, means for reciprocating the slide, means carried by the slide and acting upon the reciprocation thereof to engage the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the slide to advance the strip step by step onto the platen.

10. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising the construction defined in claim 9 together with a fixed hold down projecting above the inner supporting surface in the rear of said blade, and a movable hold down extending above the outer supporting surface in the rear of said blade acting normally to hold the strip thereagainst.

11. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising the construction defined in claim 9 together with hold down means engaging the top of the ticket strip in the rear of the said blade and acting to press the ticket strip against the supporting surfaces.

12. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a bed having a longitudinal way therein, a guide rib secured to the bed in alignment with the way, a slide comprising blocks fitting the guide rib and a feed bar detachably secured to the blocks, and means for reciprocating the slide on the guide rib, means carried by the slide and acting upon the reciprocation thereof to engage the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the slide to advance the strip step by step.

13. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a bed having a longitudinal way therein, a plate at one side of the Way and a bar at the other side of the Way each presenting supporting surfaces for the ticket strip, a slide mounted in the Way, means for reciprocating the slide, means carried by the slide and acting upon the reciprocation thereof to engage the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the slide to advance the strip step by step, a guide for the inner edge of the strip supported in brackets adjustably secured to the bed, a fixed hold down overlying the inner edge of the ticket strip secured to and projecting laterally from the guide, and a movable hold down resting on the ticket strip over the supporting surface of the plate.

14. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a bed, strip severing means acting on a line extending laterally'of the bed, the said bed having a longitudinal Way therein With parallel strip supporting surfaces at the sides thereof extending to the said line of severance, a platen on the opposite side of said line of severance from the bed, a slide mounted in the Way, means for reciprocating the slide, means carried by the slide and acting upon the reciprocation thereof to engage the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the slide to advance the strip step by step on to the platen With the rear end of each unit of the ticket strip presented successively at the line of severance.

15. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising the construction defined in claim 14, together with a fixed hold-down projected above the inner supporting surface in the rear of the line of severance, and a movable hold down extending above the outer supporting surface in the rear of the line of severance and acting normally to hold the strip thereagainst.

16. A machine for operating upon a ticket strip comprising a longitudinal series of strip engaging members normally projected above and depressed by the strip below the bottom plane thereof and spaced apart a distance not less than the Width of the ticket, a strip severing means acting on a line extending transversely of said longitudinal series of strip engaging members, and means for longitudinally reciprocating the said series of strip engaging members bodily in unison to cause said strip engaging members successively to engage the end of the ticket strip upon the successive forward movements of the series and advance the strip step by step the Width of a ticket with the rear edge of 

